It's not easy to get excited about the look of a PHP environment and editor but PHP Designer puts in more effort than most to create a stylish and highly usable one.

PHP Designer is a complete PHP IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and PHP editor that caters for just about all your PHP coding needs but it also applies itself to HTML, CSS and JavaScript development. The main aim of PHP Designer is to boost your productivity and make your life easier. However, because of this, it's aimed more at beginners than professional editors, although there's enough there to keep the latter interested too.

Probably the main bonus of PHP Designer is the intelligent syntax highlighting which spots errors as you type, meaning less head scratching at the end of a long coding session. This applies not just to PHP but to other languages as well. Of course, PHP Designer also comes with a debugger which can test scripts for errors and suggests possible solutions although as with all debuggers, the success rate can be hit and miss according to most users.

If you're looking for a good looking PHP editor that supports plenty of other languages too, then PHP Designer may well make your life a lot easier.

Download PHP Designer 2008 6.1 in Softonic

HTML-Optimizer Pro speeds up your web site by optimizing both HTML and script code of your web pages. It helps you keep organized by creating a duplicate site folder for the optimized files. An added benefit is that it leaves your original files untouched.

The application checks your web pages for dangling tags, missing attributes and broken links. The program also features Smart Handling which means that only the pages that you changed are processed.

Download HTML-Optimizer 9.9 in Softonic

HTML-Optimizer speeds up your web site by optimizing both HTML and script code on your web pages. It helps you stay organized by creating a duplicate site folder for the optimized files. An added benefit is that it leaves your original files untouched.

The program features Smart Handling which means that only those pages that have changed are processed. Besides optimizing, the program can also check for dangling tags, missing attributes and broken links and convert special characters. You should use your original web folder for editing and use the duplicate web folder for uploading.

Download HTML-Optimizer Pro 5.4 in Softonic

There's plenty of DVD and CD managers out there but there are few that allow you to organise DVDs, CDs, DivX files and even cassettes in one easy to browse and search database.

Since I'd rather have my video and audio collection all under one program, I quite liked Ant Movie Catalog. First of all, it's completely free and the source code is open to modification by its users who are brought together by the program's forum. There are several reasons why this database appeals.

First of all is simplicity - it's not bloated in any way so searching and navigating through your collection either by format, genre, alphabetically or year is extremely easy and fast. Second of all, it takes a lot of the hard work out of cataloguing your collection because it imports information about your media from the internet using scripts. These include scripts for the IMDB, DVDFR (a French DVD website), Allocine /a French film site) and Culturalia (a Spanish multimedia site).

In addition, it can store all information in two formats - either binary or XML - the latter makes it possible to export your collection to Excel and other database applications. If you do add too many album and film covers to Ant Movie Catalog, it can start to slow down a bit but there is the option of linking to external pictures rather than importing them. You can also display in graphical format, stats relating to your multimedia collection - how many of a certain format you have, genre, date etc.

Lightweight, easy to use and covering just about any conceivable media you might own, Ant Movie Catalog is an easy and free way to bring your collection together.

Download Ant Movie Catalog 3.5.1.1 in Softonic

The Start menu is supposed to give you quick access to programs and files, but it often ends up being a real mess. This is the time when you need some alternative like Executor.

Despite its scary name, Executor is a nice, useful application that enables you to open files and launch your favorite applications and websites just by typing the keywords you have previously assigned to them. What's more, as the program auto-completes each entry, the first few letters are usually enough. The program also includes some built-in keywords for the most common tasks, such as performing a Google search or opening the Control Panel.

Executor features an extensive configuration menu that enables you to customize every single detail. It also has support for skins, but the included skins are generally very dark and hard to read. Luckily enough, you can create your own personal color combination and save it as skin.

Download Executor 0.98b in Softonic

Most multimedia publishing programs only allow you to publish one type of format be it photos, video or audio - Gallery Designer allows you to publish all 3 at once and does all the HTML coding for you.

Everything is explained and taken step by step until your gallery is online with no further effort required on your part. To get going, first of all you're asked which image files you want to upload. Secondly, you're asked what title you want to give the album and the layout parameters - how big, what style etc. Then, you simply click "Build" and the software whizzes into action building a perfect HTML gallery, complete with thumbnails, for publishing on the net.

Once ready, you are given detailed control over exactly how you want the gallery to look such as by changing the thumbnails to full image size, the titles, layout gallery style, border colors etc. If you see another gallery online that you like developed using Gallery Designer, you can even borrow that template or alternatively, design your own.

With support for for a wide range of video and photo formats and even support for text files, Gallery Designer takes the pain out of coding your own online gallery.

Download Gallery Designer 1.0.9 in Softonic

While most security packages employ 128-bit encryption, Data Guardian goes a lot further with a staggering 448-bit level of protection.

The Blowfish protection system is enough to stop all but the most determined hackers. The program basically allows you to create multiple databases based on different themes e.g. an address book, customer database, journal, password manager, or even notepad. With 448-bit encryption employed on each of these however, you can be sure that they'll be pretty safe even if they're not stored locally.

The program prides itself on customizability - i.e. you can create just about any kind of database you require with any category or colour coding of your choice. The program also employs what it calls "Keychain integration" which basically autofills passwords. Although Firefox and IE also do this now, you're probably much safer using Data Guardian because of the encrytion protection that surrounds your data.

It also offers a few other useful shortcuts such as one click calling based on auto recognition of phone numbers, instant access to your e-mail client via auto recognition of e-mail addresses and generation of secure passwords.

A well designed a super secure database/productivity enhancement application, Data Guardian gives you more than one less thing to worry about.

Download Data Guardian 1.5.1 in Softonic

If you don't trust passwords to protect your computer, you should take a look at Rohos Logon Key.

With Rohos Logon Key you can block access to your computer using any USB memory stick you have previously configured with the program as access key. So, instead of a weak, easy-to-forget password, Rohos Logon Key uses a combination of hardware (the USB device) and software (the PIN code associated to that device) to protect the computer.

Rohos Logon Key is very easy to configure and use. It features a wide variety of configuration options with which you can not only customize security settings, but also graphic settings such as the welcome message or the logon screen Rohos Logon Key will use.

Some other interesting features in Rohos Logon Key include the Emergency login option in case you lose your USB key and the restricted access based on time limitations, which I personally find very handy to control the amount of time your children spend on the PC.

Rohos Logon Key is a comfortable and powerful alternative to traditional passwords you can use to protect your PC from unauthorized access.

Download Rohos Logon Key 2.5 in Softonic

Would you like to create your own presentations in Flash but you don't even know where to start? Then FlyPaper is for you.

FlyPaper is an intuitive application that lets you create Flash presentations without having to code a single line. Simply select your favorite photos or videos, add some transition effects and save the result as an FLV, MPG or MP4 video.

That said, the truth is that I expected FlyPaper to be easier to use. The interface is not as straightforward as I thought but luckily the program at least features a complete tutorial you can watch the first time you run it. Also, FlyPaper includes a wide array of material (templates, themes, ready-made stories…) to get you started, although the files are actually stored on the program's website and you have to download them in order to use them.

In spite of all, FlyPaper is a very decent tool to create multimedia presentations which comes in specially handy for those of us who don't have the slightest idea about Flash.

FlyPaper lets you create beautiful customized Flash presentations with photos, videos and animations even if you don't know anything about Flash.

Download Flypaper 1.0.1.2 in Softonic

If you're bored of Windows Explorer or would like to experiment with something a little different, then NexusFile may be your answer.

NexusFile is a powerful and fast file manager that allows you to browse through the contents of your hard drive with great ease. The vast majority of its functions can be controlled by keyboard shortcuts, which makes it quicker and more convenient than other programs especially Explorer. The program also includes integrated utilities that let you go beyond just file browsing and exploring such as a file extractor for compressed files in ZIP, RAR and ACE and it also allows you to create ZIP files, rename multiple files and directories simultaneously, add a description to your personal files and directories, and much more. The program features a very intuitive interface also can be customized completely, using colour coding to better distinguish the various elements, changing fonts and so on.

This is a neat little alternative to Explorer although it takes some getting used to but if you invest the time, you might find yourself sticking with it.

Download NexusFile 5.02.3196 in Softonic

Beyond Compare is a powerful time-saving utility for comparing files and folders on your Windows system. Use it to manage source code, keep folders in sync, compare program output, and validate copies of your data.

Beyond Compare can create a snapshot of a live directory structure, and compare it against the live copy at a later date. The utility helps you analyze differences in detail and carefully reconcile them. It commands a wide range of file and text operations, as well as script commands for automating tasks.

Download Beyond Compare 3.0.2 in Softonic

Fractal Forge is an application written in Delphi that lets you easily explore the branches of the Mandelbrot set. If you use Fractal Forge generated images you must acknowledge it. Features include:

• Export images, with JPG, PNG or BMP format
• Create and edit your favorite colors sequences or import
• Fractint Palettes
• Avi creations to document your fractal tours
• Print Poster-size image tiling smaller ones
• Julia and Orbits floating windows
• Post-processing graphic filters
• Wallpaper exports
• Several generating and coloring formulas coded in assembler
• Supports up to 4 CPU
• Print Poster-size image tiling smaller ones
• Full screen mode
• Help and tutorial included

Download Fractal Forge 2.8.2 in Softonic

Lightscreen is a free, simple and practical utility to capture images for those that don't want to mess about with post processing or resizing tools.

Lightscreen offers three ways to capture screenshots - full screen, active window, and an area that you can select yourself. All three offer you enough scope to capture just about any type of screenshot. You can configure the format, prefix and suffix of the file (numeric or date format) and specify the folder to save it to. You can also configure a hotkey to make screenshots instantaneous. There are also some other additional little additions such as control over image quality or you can also configure a delay on the screen capture if you're using the hotkey. Once configured Lightscreen becomes especially useful to make multiple catches because every time you press capture, it automatically saves a file with the filename, format and parameters that you specified. The slight downside is that you can only configure a limited number of formats to save screenshots in namely PNG, JPG; BMP, PPM, XBM and TIFF.

A free and easy screen capture tool that will appeal to fans of The GIMP or those that just need a simple screenshot solution.

Download Lightscreen 0.3 in Softonic

Although blogs are now the most common way to be online, there are still people who prefer alternative web publishing methods like a content management system.

Joomla! is one of those systems, in fact one of the most popular ones. On the one hand, it's definitely not as easy to set up as a personal blog on any free blogging platform, but on the other hand, it grants you total control on the way your website is displayed, managed and updated. And in case you need help, Joomla! features a highly detailed help section on its website which can bring light on any problem you may have during installation and configuration.

With Joomla! you can set up a complete website in minutes. You don't need to design or code anything; as long as you install the required apps (PHP, MySQL and Apache) you're ready to go. The whole website is configured and customized through web menus, so that the only thing you need to worry about is creating good content for your site.

If you want to set up a complete website with no coding or designing knowledge, a content management system like Joomla! is the perfect choice for you.

Download Joomla! 1.5.6 in Softonic

Some months ago I learnt about Greasemonkey, a Firefox extension that enables you to customize the appearance and behaviour of certain web pages by means of some Javascript snippets. But that coding bit somehow kept me away from testing it. You know, I'm a lazy user and I want software apps to do all the work by themselves.

Now I've found this great extension that features the best Greasemonkey scripts for Gmail. You don't even need to have Greasemonkey itself installed. Better Gmail is the only thing you need to add new functionalities to your Gmail inbox, customize its appearance and improve your productivity.

Among other things, you'll be able to see previews of message content, identify attachments with a file type icon, save searches, add skins to Gmail's interface and even integrate Google Reader under the Gmail page.

Unfortunately I had problems with some of the scripts (label coloring wouldn't work for me) but in general terms this makes a great extension for Gmail fans.

If you think Gmail is great, install this Firefox extension and make it even better with new functionalities and an improved look.

Download Better Gmail 2.0.6 in Softonic

Power users often find the standard Windows File Explorer too limited and need a more complete file manager to suit their needs. If you're among them look no further because we've got the right app for you.

Q-Dir is a multi-pane file manager for Windows that makes file management more convenient and above all, far more comfortable for you. Having several windows pointing to different locations on your hard drive makes it much easier to move or copy data from one folder to another, and also makes browsing faster. Q-Dir supports different layouts with 2, 3 o 4 panes and each one of them can be configured separately.

The program doesn't really add any extra function to the ones already featured in Windows Explorer, but there's one special feature I did like: the possibility to show files in different colors according to the file type, such as blue for images, red for music and so on. Plus, this color code is totally customizable.

Q-Dir doesn't require installation and can even been run from a USB stick.

Though it doesn't feature any special tool, Q-Dir is still a more complete file manager with multiple panes and customizable color codes for file types.

Download Q-Dir 3.27 in Softonic

Though your iPhone or iPod can be synchronized with iTunes, you can have problems if you try to use it with more than one copy of iTunes or on more than one computer. TuneAid helps you easily solve that issue.

TuneAid connects to your device and displays its content (namely music and video) organized in a similar way to that of iTunes: a list of audio and video files you can sort by artist, song, album and more. You can then select certain songs (or simply all of them) and copy them straight away from TuneAid to your computer.

TuneAid can copy the content to any folder on your hard drive or directly to your iTunes library. It comes really handy not only to transfer songs from one computer to another, but also as a backup copy.

Just make sure your device is not protected by an access code: my iPhone was and it took me ages to figure out why TuneAid wasn't detecting it.

With TuneAid you can easily copy and transfer the content of your iPhone or iPod between different computers.

Download TuneAid 3.03 in Softonic

Mac users are often said to be the most loyal customers in the computer market, but that's because they have very good reasons, such as iTunes, to stick to Apple products. And if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to have this application on my Windows PC.

iTunes has become one of the most popular music managers available today. When you run it for the first time, you can choose your music folders or let the program take care of everything. Then you can keep on adding new music, videos, podcasts and other multimedia elements from various sources and – of course - synchronize all this content with your iPod or iPhone thanks to a perfectly seamless integration.

Managing your iTunes library is a piece of cake. The program's interface is simple and straightforward, plus there are right-click shortcuts and keyboard hotkeys for many tasks. You can view extended information about each track and edit their tags, give them a score with the iTunes star ranking tool and comfortably browse through your collection with the amazing Cover Flow system. And for those of you who work in a LAN environment, the great news is that you can share your music libraries with your network mates.

One thing I particularly like of iTunes as music manager is its ability to create playlists. The Smart Playlist tool enables you to create almost any kind of playlist based on just about any criteria you set: artist, genre, date added, star ranking or even the number of times you've played each song. Another great playlist is the so called Party Shuffle, which comes in very handy when you invite some friends over to your place. You can then leave iTunes working as a DJ and play music on its own, but if you drop by the PC at any time, you can freely add more songs to the list or rearrange them in any way.

However, if there's something where iTunes is not perfect yet, that's the player function. You may disagree here, but I think the iTunes player falls too short, especially when compared to its music manager side. It does have some interesting features, like the Smart shuffle function and crossfading playback, but I still find it too simple. The visual effects in the Viewer window are particularly poor. I also missed the ability to control the player from anywhere with global hotkeys, which is great if you listen to music while you're working on the PC with other apps. Fortunately there are some plug-ins that cover this need.

In all, despite these slight flaws, iTunes is probably the best choice to manage your music collection –and that includes Windows users.

Download iTunes 7.7.1 in Softonic

The threat of website design theft is of significant concern to many website developers. Whilst copyright laws help to protect a work, they are often difficult to enforce, particularly when the dispute involves individuals in different countries. PageLock provides added physical protection by acting as a deterrent for possible offenders.

PageLock encodes HTML (the code used to design webpages) in a way that makes it difficult to make unauthorised copies whilst still allowing the resulting webpage to be displayed in a JavaScript compatible web browser without disruption to the webpage's design. PageLock also provides options for preventing text from being selected or the right mouse button being clicked in the body of the webpage.

As is the case with any copy protection technology, it is impossible to be absolutely certain that the encoding used won't be cracked. The same applies to webpages protected by PageLock. When you encode your webpages using the program, you can be assured that your page is encoded in a way that makes it more difficult for others to copy. The protection is intended to act as a deterrent for opportunistic copying of your site's design.

Download PageLock 7.2.1 in Softonic

Registry problems are the common cause of Windows crashes, error messages, and degraded performance. RegDoctor is designed to safely and quickly clean and repair Windows registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks.

The app uses an intelligent, high-performance detection engine to accurately identify missing and invalid references in your Windows registry. Identified registry problems are listed and rated by risk level using an easy to understand color-coded system.

You can choose to have RegDoctor automatically repair all identified problems, or choose which problems to repair immediately. RegDoctor also offers a Restore feature to create registry backup files, giving you the capability to safely undo any registry changes.

The auto-start feature of RegDoctor helps to support its regular use. By using RegDoctor regularly to clean and repair your registry, your system should not only be more stable but it will also help Windows and your software run faster.

Download RegDoctor 2.04 in Softonic